Jobs

• Director, National Center for Children in Poverty
  Full-time
  Listed 9/2/11

Director, National Center for Children in Poverty

Full-time

Description

Columbia University and the Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH)

Columbia University (www.columbia.edu) was founded in 1754 as King's College by a royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the State of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.

Today, Columbia University has grown to include more than 4,000 faculty members, approximately 23,000 students, and over 9,000 administrative, support, library, and research staff. Over the years, 64 Columbia graduates and faculty have received the Nobel Prize. Today, Columbia is what President Lee Bollinger has called, "the quintessential great urban university," attracting students and faculty from 150 countries to engage with each other and with the cultural scientific and business enterprises that make New York City one of the most exciting cities in the world.

The Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) is ranked among the top schools of public health in the nation and is one of the three largest recipients of sponsored research for all schools of public health. Its internationally recognized and highly interdisciplinary faculty is comprised of over 500 full-time faculty members, of whom almost 40 percent hold joint or interdisciplinary appointments with other departments of the University, as well as a large network of adjunct faculty. MSPH has a long-standing commitment to addressing the health needs of Manhattan's Washington Heights and Harlem neighborhoods through collaborative initiatives with community organizations and governmental agencies. It also has an outstanding record of leading major global research, training, and service programs. Spanning 100 countries around the globe, these programs address such issues as infectious disease, environmental health, maternal and child health, and disease surveillance. MSPH has an exceptionally strong record of global health funding, having received the two largest private grants and the largest federal grant in the University's history. MSPH takes full advantage of and is enriched by the array of professional schools, disciplinary departments and numerous special institutes and centers that constitute Columbia University; and, of course, by its location in a vibrant world city.

MSPH offers a broad range of graduate education and training opportunities through its six academic departments: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, population and family health, and sociomedical sciences. The school also offers a master's in general public health. Programs of study lead to the M.P.H., M.S., Dr.P.H. and Ph.D. degrees, as well as 10 dual degree programs with other Columbia Schools. MSPH has 1,253 students.

In 1998, the Mailman family made a transformational gift of $33 million to name the School. This gift and other major programmatic grants have served as catalysts for increased philanthropy to MSPH, increasing the endowment to $104 million. MSPH has a new physical home at 722 West 168th Street, and a total of 250,000 square feet of assignable space.

With over 8,400 alumni, a budget of $292 million, an endowment of $101 million, 1,222 employees, 341 full-time faculty, 269 part-time faculty, and $258 million in research support, MSPH serves 1,253 students (M.P.H.: 864; Executive M.P.H.: 76; M.S.: 76; Ph.D.: 138; Dr.P.H.: 63; non-degree: 36). Thirteen percent comes from 42 other countries and 17 percent is from under-represented minority populations in the United States.

MSPH has six departments and many specialized centers of excellence:

Departments

• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy and Management
• Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health
• Sociomedical Sciences

Centers

• Center for Child, Adolescent and Family Life Epidemiology
• Center for Community Health and Education
• Center for Gender, Sexuality and Health
• Center for History and Ethics of Public Health
• Center for Homelessness and Prevention Studies
• Center for Infection and Immunity
• Center for Infectious Disease and Epidemiologic Research
• Center for Psychosocial Study of Health and Illness
• Center for Public Health Preparedness
• Center for the Study of Social Inequalities and Health
• Center for Violence Research and Prevention
• Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
• Columbia Center for Environmental Health in Northern Manhattan
• Harlem Health Promotion Center
• Imprints Center for Genetic and Environmental Life Course Studies
• International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs
• International Center for Health Outcomes and Innovation Research
• International Longevity Center
• National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)
• National Center for Disaster Preparedness
• New York and New Jersey Public Health Training Center

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. More information about the Mailman School of Public Health is available at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu.

The Department of Health Policy and Management (HP&M)

HP&M is successor to one of the nation's first programs in health administration, Columbia University's Institute of Administrative Medicine. For the past 75 years, its faculty has excelled in research, teaching, and service. HP&M faculty, staff and students focus on problems of health care policy, organization, financing, and administration in order to understand and improve the practice of health policy and management locally, nationally, and, most recently, globally. The Department is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration and the full-time Management Track and the Executive MPH Program are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education.

HP&M's mission is to advance theory and practice that improve the public's health, prevent disease, and strengthen the healthcare system and its component organizations. The mission is accomplished through research, education, and service that address the development and implementation of health policy and the administrative functioning of health systems and services. Faculty approach some of the most intractable problems, like access to health care, organization and administration of healthcare delivery, and financing and quality of care, from a range of disciplinary and professional perspectives informed by empirical evidence.

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP)

Founded in 1989 as a division of MSPH, the National Center for Children in Poverty is a nonpartisan, public interest research organization that is housed within HP&M. NCCP is one of the nation's leading public policy centers dedicated to promoting the health, economic security and well-being of America's low-income families and children. NCCP uses research to inform policy and practice with the goal of ensuring positive outcomes for the next generation. NCCP promotes family oriented solutions at the state and national levels.

NCCP's mission addresses one of this nation's most pressing and recalcitrant problems. As documented in the Center's latest annual demographic report, 15.5 million children in the United States (21 percent of children under age 18) are growing up in poverty. When children in low-income families living at the edge of poverty (incomes up to twice the official poverty level) are included, they account for 44 percent (31.9 million) of our nation's children¹. Even though most low-income parents work, many are unable to provide economic security for their children. They worry daily about how to pay their bills, put food on the table and afford needed medical care.

With evidence that innovative public policies have dramatically reduced poverty among the elderly, NCCP works to do the same for our nation's children and families. NCCP's vision is for family economic security; strong, nurturing families; and healthy child development. Using knowledge gained from research, NCCP seeks to find ways to make work pay, improve work supports, provide nurturing early learning environments for young children, and secure adequate health and mental health care for our nation's families.

In order to impact public policy and professional practitioners, NCCP creates research products for policymakers, practitioners, advocates and media. As its research uncovers facts, identifies trends and analyzes policy developments, NCCP provides media reports on the realities faced by low-income children and families in the United States, which are widely used by journalists across the country. Because policymakers need the right information to make good decisions, many rely upon a trusted source like NCCP to provide evidence-based strategies to promote the health and successful development of children. NCCP has a track record of highlighting emerging challenges and offering insights into turning research into practice. Because of its history of success in these areas, NCCP is respected by policymakers, direct service providers and advocates across the country.

NCCP has an annual budget of approximately $4.2 million that is raised primarily from foundations and government agencies augmented by endowment income. Following a recent reduction in its staff size, NCCP has 22 full-time and five part-time employees. NCCP has three programmatic units: Early Education and Development, Family Economic Security, and Health and Mental Health; and a specialized research resource, Child Care & Early Education Research Connections. A listing of the various projects and activities supported by NCCP can be found in the Appendix on page nine.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of NCCP is the visionary and strategic leader of the Center. He/she works to support MSPH's and HP&M's strategic vision to bring research to bear on the health and welfare needs of children living in poverty and enhance the programs focused on domestic public health. He/she is challenged to maintain a solid organization, provide leadership for all projects and activities, and ensure the appropriate allocation of resources and talent to execute successfully against the strategy. In addition, he/she acts as the public face of NCCP, building partnerships within HP&M, MSPH and throughout Columbia University, as well as with the broader public to increase awareness and support for the organization and its mission.

Key Relationships

Reports to:	Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management
Direct reports2:	Director, Early Education and Development Director, Family Economic Security Acting Director, Health and Mental Health Director, Research Connections Project Research Associate, Demography Director, External Affairs Manager of Finance and Budget Manager of Human Resources Senior Systems Administrator Executive Assistant
Other key relationships:	HP&M Faculty Mailman Faculty Columbia University Faculty Foundations and NCCP donors Other national and state-level research, policy and advocacy organizations

Major Responsibilities

• Provide the visionary and strategic leadership for NCCP to guide development of its research agenda, raise its visibility and credibility, strategically prune and grow the organization, and fit it to the future.
• Demonstrate a passion for NCCP's mission as the key representative of and spokesperson for NCCP to policymakers, corporations, donors, physicians, scientists, news media, volunteers and chapters.
• Position NCCP nationally and internationally as a major source of cutting-edge research on children living in poverty and a critical catalyst for advancing policies that impact children and their families.
• Stabilize and enhance the financial security of NCCP through multiple revenue generating and cost cutting strategies.
• Build a strong partnership with Mailman faculty and the broader community; and work effectively to enhance trusted relationships among various constituencies, such as government funders and donors.
• Efficiently manage financial and people resources available to NCCP and assure effective and transparent reporting of financial and other key metrics.

Qualifications

CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION: KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Ideal Experience

• A track record of leadership experience with fiduciary responsibilities, preferably in an academic, non-profit, mission-driven organization. Knowledge of and publications in an area within child policy and capacity to meet substantial budgetary demands are advantages.
• Experience and success as an academic researcher with noteworthy contributions to a discipline related to children living in poverty. While not required, there is a strong preference for a leader that is eligible for appointment as faculty within the University because of his/her research prowess and scholarly activities.
• A proven record of executing, communicating and advocating for an organization's vision, mission and goals with passion and credibility.
• Demonstrated experience working with faculty, staff, students, donors, funders and advisors with diverse backgrounds.
• Fundraising experience, especially institutional and major gift cultivation. Critical Competencies for Success

Visionary and Compassionate Leader: Within the context of the unexpected death of a long-term successful leader four years ago and now a second period of interim leadership, the NCCP's next Executive Director will work with HP&M and the School to develop NCCP's strategic vision and build the team to execute against that vision. He/she will:

• Engage key stakeholders in a strategic outcome-oriented vision that incorporates the need for change, builds on the success of the past, assesses programs and systems, and creates a path to the future.
• Passionately and effectively communicate NCCP's mission, value proposition and future direction in a way that builds excitement and fosters commitment to the organization among internal and external audiences.
• Encourage and manage strategic innovation as a way to strengthen NCCP's research agenda.
• Develop key relationships and ensure strong collaborations with funders and the broader community.

Experience Growing a Research Program: The successful candidate must be familiar with research and the potential for translating research findings into policy and practice. Ideally NCCP's next leader will have a portfolio of research regarding children living in poverty and a track record of growing a research program as demonstrated by:

• Scholarly publications, invited lectures, and measurable impact on specific national policies or international discourse.
• A history of embarking upon new ventures in research that were transformed into successful programs and made significant contributions to a field or discipline related to issues of children living in poverty.
• Receipt of research funding for a team of scholars working collaboratively to accomplish an agreed upon research agenda.

Management Expertise: The qualified candidate must have an outcome-oriented management capacity that is grounded in team building. NCCP has undergone significant leadership and staffing changes in the last few years including recent reductions in staff that have created an uncertain working environment. The next leader must build and nurture the right team, provide stability and credibility, regain the trust and confidence of the team, and effectively move the organization forward. He/she will be expected to:

• Create an administrative structure that is appropriate and compatible with HP&M and the School.
• Demonstrate financial acumen and a best practices approach to budgeting, resource development and allocation.
• Review existing products, programs and activities, and engage appropriate marketing and public relations strategies to implement a rebranding initiative that "reintroduces" NCCP and raises its visibility as the "go-to" organization for information and best practices regarding children living in poverty.
• Motivate the team to accomplish goals and create a performance management system to measure success.
• Create a culture of excellence and service in a complex, multidisciplinary academic organization.

Constituency Building Skills and Fundraising Acumen: In a time of economic uncertainty and stiff competition for fewer grant and philanthropic resources, the next Executive Director will have a track record of success raising funds from diverse sources (individuals, corporations and government). He/she will:

• Review current strategies, make appropriate enhancements and introduce new plans for increasing revenue and sources of revenue for NCCP's core mission.
• Embrace an overall development strategy and personally reach out to donors and potential donors to tell NCCP's story, engage their support and increase their contributions.

Other Personal Characteristics

• Personal and professional integrity and credibility.
• An engaging style of interaction with strong negotiating skills and the capacity to be flexible and resilient.
• Outcome and action-oriented; able to prioritize and willing to hold others and self accountable regarding commitments and goals.
• Well honed communication skills on both scientific and organizational matters.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE: CONTACT INFORMATION

Alexis H. Stiles Consultant	Office telephone: Office fax: Mobile telephone: E-mail address: Assisted by: Office telephone: E-mail address:	215.814.1615 215.814.1680 610.585.3987 astiles@spencerstuart.com Sanna Bryant 404.504.4489 sbryant@spencerstuart.com
Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD Consultant	Office telephone: Office fax: Mobile telephone: E-mail address: Assisted by: Office telephone: E-mail address:	617.531.5730 617.531.5732 617.797.5717 dprothrowstith@spencerstuart.com Kym Patrico 617.531.5740 kpatrico@spencerstuart.com
Diane Westmore Senior Associate	Office telephone: Office fax: Mobile telephone: E-mail address:	404.504.4412 404.504.4401 678.640.6935 dwestmore@spencerstuart.com

APPENDIX: NCCP Projects and Activities CURRENT NCCP Projects and Activities:

Community Connections Evaluations: NCCP and Child Trends, in collaboration with Illinois Action for Children, have conducted a process evaluation to be followed by an anticipated outcomes evaluation of Community Connections - a program that links low- income families, their home-based child care providers, and center-based pre- kindergarten programs in caring for and educating preschool-age children.

Early Childhood QRIS Quality Improvement Strategies collects, analyzes, and disseminates information about quality standards and quality improvement activities that are part of states' Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS), and recommends strategies to strengthen these systems and their capacity to benefit young children's school readiness.

Fair Play for Immigrant Children examines family economic security issues for children in immigrant families, including improving family access to public work supports for which they are eligible.

Housing Subsidies and Child Development aims to examine the impact of housing subsidies on the cognitive and socio-emotional development of young children aged 1- 5 using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data.

Improving the Odds for Young Children produces state policy profiles that show the extent to which each state has established policies that support the healthy development of young children. Another project resource, the Young Child Risk Calculator, provides information about the number of young children in each state who experience individual and multiple risks to their well-being and development.

Making Work Supports Work is a collaborative project in which NCCP works with state and national partners to help policymakers improve supports for low-wage workers and their families. The goal is to promote a work support system that enables full-time workers to make ends meet and ensures that earning more always improves a family's financial bottom line.

Modernizing Poverty Measurement helps state policy analysts develop better measures of the incidence and depth of poverty and identify public policies and programs that are most effective in reducing poverty for children and other demographic groups.

New York City Partners for Preschool Quality is developing and evaluating an innovative model for training professional development specialists and program directors to work with teachers to create high-quality preschool programs serving educationally at-risk children. NCCP conducts this project with city agency partners and other NYC organizations.

Pathways to Early School Success provides early childhood community coalitions with tools and resources that can be used to develop and implement research-based programs and policies that benefit the healthy development, school readiness and school success of young children from birth to the early grades.

Project LAUNCH NYC evaluation is assessing the implementation and impacts of a set of early childhood mental health interventions in two high needs communities in NYC, and providing feedback, based on results, to help strengthen supports for young children's mental health in these communities.

Promoting Paid Family Leave mobilizes support for a high-quality paid family leave policy as a vital investment in the future of children and their families. The project promotes dialogue and a joint plan of action among the public health, early childhood development, and worker rights communities to achieve success at the state and national levels.

Research Connections is a unique, free, web-based resource that combines access to a comprehensive, continually updated collection of scholarly research, policy briefs, government reports, data and instruments. Focused on early care and learning, it plays a core role in NCCP's larger early childhood agenda, helping us to promote high quality research and the use of that research in policymaking.

Protecting the Safety Net in Hard Times examines state best practices to protect their social safety nets under difficult fiscal conditions and to develop sound budgeting to help weather future economic downturns.

Risk Factors and Well-being of Children at Different Levels of Economic Hardship examines risk factors and tracks outcomes of children across several income bands, including below poverty and multiples of the poverty line, using nationally representative surveys.

Supporting Young Children's Mental Health collects, analyzes, and disseminates information about state policies and initiatives that promote young children's mental health and provides technical assistance to states to advance an early childhood mental health agenda.

Tracking Mental Health Challenges focuses on the creation of user-friendly web tools to access available mental health data across three dimensions: Diagnosis and treatment, cost and affordability of services, and living conditions.New York City Partners for Preschool Quality is developing and evaluating an innovative model for training professional development specialists and program directors to work with teachers to create high-quality preschool programs serving educationally at-risk children. NCCP conducts this project with city agency partners and other NYC organizations.

RECENT NCCP Projects and Activities

Improving the Odds for Adolescents is a two-year project to improve health outcomes for adolescents - with a special focus on disadvantaged youth - by deepening the knowledge base on state policies that promote their high quality, comprehensive, preventative health care.

Project Thrive is a public policy analysis and education initiative to promote healthy child development and provide policy support to the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems initiatives funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Promoting Social Inclusion & Respect for Diversity is a two-year action research study of the formation of regional coalitions of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, evaluators, advocates, and funders to promote social inclusion and respect for diversity in early childhood education in the U.S.

Strategies for Early Learning promotes the dissemination of the growing knowledge base about the most effective ways to ensure that young children enter school with the necessary skills to be successful.

Unclaimed Children Revisited: California Case Study is a series of county-specific case studies, and a statewide analysis of effective policy-linked strategies to improve children's mental health in the state of California.

Unclaimed Children Revisited is a multi-pronged project that is generating new knowledge about policies across the 50 states that promote the delivery of high-quality mental health services to children, youth, and families in need.

The Youth, Homelessness, and Education project is a pilot project focusing on youth (ages 12 to 17) who have been homeless, run away, or both. The project uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 to examine how youth experiences of having been homeless or having run away influence the likelihood of graduating from high school.

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¹ Basic Facts about Low-Income Children, 2010: Children under 18 http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_1049.html

² The structure and positions are open to the new executive director's discretion. A prior structure included a deputy director.